Whiffletree-coupling means



Dec. 26, 1922.

. 1,439,953. W. A DANIELS.

WHIF'FLETREE COUPLING MEANS.

HLED IULY 2.1921.

(1110: we q a WILLIAM A. DANE wnrrrnn'rnan-conrnmo ranans.

warn

LS, 033 DERMOTT, AEKENSAS.

Application filed July 2, 1921. Serial No. 482,2 t6.

To IZ/ z iwm if may mace/vi:

Be it known that l. ll ILLiAM A. ll-ANIELS, a citizen of the l nited States, residing at Dermott, in the count of Chicotand State of Arkansas. have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in 'hillietree-(oupling Means, of which the following is a specification. reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to Whittle-trees, and more particularly to a double-tree.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character having novel means whereby single-trees ma be. connected to the, double-tree and prevented from disengagement regardless of the direction of movement of the single-tree. or the amount of strain applied to the single-trees. It is also an object of the invention to provide novel means for connecting singletrees to a double-tree. said means being So arranged that accidental unfastening or release of the single-trees is impossible.

It a further object of the invention to provide novel coupling means for Whittletrees including a keeper and a latch member, said latch member being detaehably connected to the Winnie-tree. one portion of said latch member being arranged to extend through the keeper. while the extremity of said latch member is adapted to engage the keeper.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement oi parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure '1 is a plan View of a double-tree. showing the coupling means applied,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the struc ture shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one oi the latch members. and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the keeper members.

Referring to the. drawings. 5 designates a whilllc-trec of conventional form preferably of the double-tree type. but it is oi course obvious that the invention may also be used in connection with single-trees.

:[t has been found that, with the coupling means previously used for connecting singletrees to double-trees, that considerable difficulty is experienced in preventing the singletree from becoming disengaged from the double-tree upon movement of the single.- treein certain directions. To overcome this disadvantage the invention provides novel coupling means embodying a keeper member 7 which consists of a substantially L-shaped member. the portion 8 of said memher being secured to the rear tace of the \vhifi'le-tree 5, while the portion 5) of said member extends over the end face of the whifile-tree and beyond the front face thereof. the outer end of the portion 9 having a relatively large opening 10. the portion of the keeper member adjacent the opening being enlarged to reinforce the openin The keeper member is secured to the Whittle-tree by means of bolts 10, said bolts extending through the whillle-trce and having their threaded ends 11 projecting beyond the front face of the whitlle-tree. By the novel construction of the keeper member 7. danger of breakage or accidental disconnect-ion .is eliminated, as thc portion 9 is not connected to the end face of the \vhifile-trce. the con nection being through the portion 8, so that any amount, of strain may be applied to the keeper member by the draft means.

In connection with the keeper member 7, a latch member 12 is provided, said latch member consisting of a strip of material having openings 13 in its end portion 14 for the reception oi" the ends 11 of the bolts 10, said end portion oi the latch member being adapted to engage the front face of the whitlle-tree. The opposite end portion 15 ot' the latch member is substantially round in cross section. and is extended from a point adjacent the outermost bolt 10, in angular relation to the end portion 14 of the strip, and outwardly to 'ard the end of the whiHle-tree. The extremity of said end portion 15 is extended back upon said end. portion to substantially form a loop 16. the end portion of the loop being formed into a. hook I? so that the extremity'oi' the portion 15 is substantially S-shaped. The purpose of extending the end portion 1:") outwardly toward the end of the. \vhillle-tree is to permit a, portion of the latch member to extend through the opening 10 of the keeper and permit the loop 16 to extend beyond the outer side face of the keeper member 7.

ln the use of the device. the end portion 14 of the latch member 12 is passed through the opening 10, and the single-tree A ongaged with the loop member 16. The hook 17 of the latch member is then engaged with the intermediate portion of the portion S) of the keeper so as to look the single-tree. within the loop member it). The end por tion ll is then moved into engagement with the front face of th whillle tree and positioned by means of the threaded ends ol the bolts 10. Thumb nuts 18 are then engaged with the. ends ll of the bolts to firmly secure the end portion 14 of the latch member to the whilile-tree. ()ne of the coupling means is provided for each end of the double-tree. and if desired. may be constructed for attachment to the ends of single-trees.

To properly connect the double-tree, to the vehicle. there is provided a novel form of clip comprising a- U-shaped body member 19. adapted to engage the intermediate portion of the double-tree. the ends of said body member having registering openings 20, said ends extending beyond the rear face of the whifile-tree. A novel connecting and hitching member 221 is provided, said member consisting of a length of material having its end portions threaded as at 22, while its in termediate portion is bent substantially U- shaped. The. end portions 22 are adapted to extend through openings :20. while nuts 23 are threaded on said end portions so as to draw the body member or clip int-o binding engagement, with the double-tree, the portion of the member 21 between the inner faces of the ends oi the clip and the junction of the U-shaped intermediate port-ion of the member 21 being arranged to engage the rear face of the double-tree so as to prevent lateral movement of the clip. At the same time. the Usliaped intermediate port-ion of the mem ber 21 extends rearwardlv to substantially provide an eye whereby the double-tree may be hitched to the vehicle. If desired. the

same connection may be used in connection with the single trees.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this invention provides novel coupling means for connecting single-trees to double trees. wherein the single-tree is unlimited in its movement and yet is positively locked against aecideutal disengatgemcut. ln addition to this, the lflfiltpfll'tifill H} is relieved ol part of the strain ol'dra it. by means of the end of the opening ll) serving as a brace for the portion of the loop or latch that extends through the opening. so that. the point ot' greatest strain is reinioreed. Fttltllt'llliulu, the hook I? is urged into engagement with the keeper when the, end portion 14- ot' the loop member is applied to the whillle-t-ree and any strain on the loop member 16 will only tend to more firmly bind the hook member 17 on the keeper member 7. The single-tree may be quickly and easily detached when desired. by loosening the nuts 11 so as to disengage the hook I? from the keeper and permitthe latch member to be disengaged from the double-tree. This feature eliminates the use of a ring for connecting the single-tree to the double-tree. In addition to this. it permits the single-tree to be disposed in spaced relation to the double-tree so that danger of contact ot the coupling member or the single and doubletrees with each other is prevented. and all of these features are possessed by a device that is simple in construction, as it is composed of only two parts which will last indefinitely.

What is claimed is:---

\Vhiflle treecoupling means comprising an L-shaped keeper member adapted to engage the rear and end faces of the whifiie-tree. a portion of said keeper member projecting beyond the Whittle-tree and having an opening in its end, and a latch member adapted to engage the front face of the Whittle-tree. one end of said latch member extending outwardly toward the end of the whifile-tree. said end portion of the latch member ex tending through the opening and back toward the keeper. into engagement with the keeper and rearwardly of the opening to provide a loop member. said loop member extending to one side of the keeper.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

"WTLLIAM A. DANIELS. 

